TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

In Congo, Charges Of War Crimes

ADVERTISEMENT

The Associated Press

Published: November 9, 2008

KIBATI, Congo - Rebels and pro-government militia troops executed civilians this week in two waves of terror that the top U.N envoy to Congo said Saturday amount to war crimes - ones that highlight the inability of undermanned U.N. peacekeepers to protect civilians.

Meanwhile, Congo's army advanced toward rebel lines Saturday, with renewed fighting near the provincial capital of Goma threatening a fragile cease-fire.

Fighting broke out Friday near Kibati, about six miles north of Goma. By Saturday morning, the army had moved more than half a mile north into a no man's land that had been unpatrolled since rebels called a cease-fire 10 days ago after routing the army.

U.N. envoy Alan Doss said that "war crimes that we cannot tolerate" were committed at Kiwanja by rebel leader Laurent Nkunda's fighters and by Mai Mai militia troops supporting the government.

Friday, U.N. investigators visited 11 graves containing what villagers said were 26 bodies, U.N. spokeswoman Sylvie van den Wildenberg said. New York-based Human Rights Watch said the death toll could be higher.

"We are getting reports of more than 50 dead, but we are still in the process of confirming that information," Anneke Van Woudenberg, a researcher with Human Rights Watch, told The Associated Press.

Van den Wildenberg and Dietrich said it appeared the rebels committed many more executions than the militia.

U.N. peacekeepers have a well-established base in Kiwanja, about 50 miles north of Goma, but it has only 120 soldiers in the town of 30,000 to 50,000. They were pinned down under crossfire for some of the first day of the killings on Tuesday, and were hampered because militia troops hid in houses among civilians, military spokesman Col. Jean-Paul Dietrich said.

Peacekeepers also tried to deter rebel attacks on Nyanzale and Kikuku, on Wednesday when the killings in Kiwanja continued, he said.

Peacekeepers carried out small patrols in Kiwanja and were fired upon by militia. They returned the fire, he said.

"It's very difficult to protect thousands of civilians, especially at night," Dietrich said.

U.N. officials said that residents suffered two waves of terror: first the Mai Mai militia came and killed people it accused of supporting the rebels. Then rebels won control and killed those they charged had supported the militia.

The rebels also looted and burned homes and a hotel, witnesses said.

They killed many victims execution style, with bullets to the head, residents told the AP.

Some residents said that the rebels had dressed the dead, most of them young men, in military uniforms.
Rebel leader Nkunda is accused of crimes against humanity. Congo's government issued an international arrest warrant for him after he defected from the army in 2004.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT